[Showa Nishikawa] New Employee Ceremony "First Mission": 'Let's Create a One-of-a-Kind Custom-Made Pillow!' 30 New Employees Experience Production in Teams of Three

Showa Nishikawa Co., Ltd. (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Genichiro Nishikawa), which deals in various bedding products such as MuAtsu and the custom-made pillow brand Makurabo, held its company entrance ceremony on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. On that day, a surprise mission was announced by President Nishikawa: the new employees themselves were to create the company's own custom-made pillows. They were required to experience firsthand both a customer's perspective and communication. ### A Mission from the President: 'Work together to make a pillow within the time limit!' After the entrance ceremony, the new employees were told, 'This is sudden, but... today, you will all be making custom-made pillows!' As a buzz went through the venue, the new employees' first mission began under the rules: 'form a team of three with people you haven't spoken to much' and 'choose one person as a model and create the best pillow for them.' From how to use the tools to which filling materials to choose, the new employees started by thinking for themselves and searching for the 'optimal solution.' New employees formed teams and interviewed each other. 'What's the height of your neck and head?' 'What firmness do you prefer?' 'What are your usual sleep concerns?' Based on the interviews, they adjusted the height, firmness, and filling materials. Furthermore, they repeated prototyping and fine-tuning to craft the 'ultimate pillow.' At the end of the mission, they presented to everyone the challenges they faced and what they learned, including why they chose that specific height and filling material. ### What is the Custom-Made Pillow Makurabo? It is a custom-made pillow where 'Pillow and Sleep Specialists' measure each customer's body and adjust it to the optimal height and firmness. We conduct a hearing about sleep concerns and bedding environments, adjust the pillow in 2mm increments to achieve the best sleeping comfort that satisfies the customer, and create a pillow from a selection of filling materials to match their preference. In this entrance ceremony, before the training on the production process, each employee first thought about their partner to create and experience it. The ability to derive answers through dialogue with limited information became a valuable experience that connects to the ability to engage with customers. **** In January 2026, Genichiro Nishikawa was appointed President and Representative Director as a young leader at the age of 29, launching a new management structure. While inheriting the 460-year-old Nishikawa family name and tradition, the company is embarking on a new path. **[2026 'Showa Nishikawa Entrance Ceremony' Outline]** Date: April 1, 2026 Venue: Showa Nishikawa Headquarters Number of new employees: 30 **[Company Profile]** Company Name: Showa Nishikawa Co., Ltd. Headquarters: 1-4-15 Nihonbashi-Hamacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0007 Representative: Genichiro Nishikawa URL: https://www.showanishikawa.co.jp/